The Obama Watch
Buying Barack
The Norwegian Nobel Committee would end up waiting for Godot if it expected Obama to “accomplish” anything.
The bestowal of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize upon Barack Obama, a mere nine months a president, is both a reward for a historic achievement and a down payment for similar actions in the future.
First, the down payment. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is using what currency it has to pay the President of the United States to behave as it wants him to behave. The committee itself has admitted that Obama’s award is an encouragement to certain conduct,
The committee is more crafty than foolish. Its members look at Obama and see a man who cherishes praise and adulation, who loves the flash of the camera and the uplifted gaze of a teary eye. What better way to direct this particular American president’s behavior than to grant him the world’s most prestigious award?
As the committee put it, Obama has “captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future.” Translation: the non-American world hopes the President of the United States continues to put the interests of other nations before the interests of his own.
“His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world’s population,” the committee fawned.
Indeed, as Obama said in addressing the United Nations General Assembly late last month, “We must embrace a new era of engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and our work must begin now.”
Obama really believes that “mutual interest and mutual respect” can be found on any issue and among any parties. Thus his assertion in May that “It is not in their [Iran’s] interest to pursue a nuclear weapon and they should change course.” Not in their interest to possess the most powerful weapon in history? It is in every nation’s interest to obtain such a weapon. It’s called “self-preservation.” Obama, blinded by the catch phrases of collectivism, fails to see that.
Apparently motivated almost entirely by the desire to be liked, Obama seems to assume that other world leaders share that primary motivation. They do not. The Norwegian Nobel Committee might well be as deluded as Obama is. But what if it isn’t? That would mean it is cleverly encouraging Obama’s delusion. If the president has a propensity to weaken his own nation by chasing after the adoration of foreigners, then the surest way to damage the United States is to shower the president with affection.
Why not reward Obama after he accomplishes a major diplomatic victory? Because the committee understands that Obama’s dialogue with tyrants and dictators will fail. If it waits for an achievement, it will be waiting forever. Besides, rewarding success is not the committee’s goal. Diminishing the power, prestige and influence of the United States is.
Obama won, the committee proclaimed, “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapon.”
No human being with a functioning brain believes there will ever be “a world without a nuclear weapon.” The committee members have brains. Their real reason emerges in the second graph of the committee’s statement:
Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.
Ignore the bit about democracy and human rights. The evidence shows quite strongly that the opposite is true. China, Iran and Russia are imprisoning or murdering dissidents without the slightest regard for what the President of the United States thinks. Britain released the Lockerbie bomber — which it would not have done on Bush’s watch. And, to placate China, which brutally cracked down on Tibet only last year, President Obama refused to meet with the Dalai Lama.
The Nobel committee is really interested in “multilateral diplomacy” regaining “a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play.” When “multilateral diplomacy” regains “a central position” in world affairs, the United States will be sidelined, reduced from superpower to just another member state of the United Nations. That is what the committee is after.
The committee couldn’t slip Obama cash under the table to undermine America’s interests. The president is far too moral a man to ever accept such a thing. But the committee could present him with the world’s most prestigious award in the hope that it would steel his resolve to remain utterly passive and malleable when conducting America’s business abroad. And that’s just what it did.
About the Author
Andrew Cline is editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader. His Twitter ID is @Drewhampshire.
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Robbins Mitchell| 10.16.09 @ 6:57AM
So Barokeydoke is willing to accept college tuition from questionable foreign sources,a 6 figure advance for writing a vapid autobiography,a sweetheart deal from Tony Rezko on his huge Chicago mansion,and a 300k/yr no show job for his wife,and the open patronage of Georg Soros....but he is to 'moral' to accept under the table money from the Nobel committee,right?....non sequitur much,Andrew?
notasheep| 10.16.09 @ 7:31AM
Are the Americans who support this snakeoil salesman so stupid that they cannot see that his just a front man for something or someone more incidious than we can ever imagine? Are they just sheep being led to the slaughter while wallowing in the adulation that keeps this man going?
I am scared @hitless.
Eric Cartman| 10.16.09 @ 9:25AM
The Norwegian Mackerel Snappers are up to is simple: They want to make it more difficult for BO to do anything in Afghanistan - or Iraq, or Iran, or Detroit! (where its really needed). As if he needs them to stumble and bumble his way through these wars. Phhht!
pinkie brown| 10.16.09 @ 9:35AM
Maybe the Norwegians did us all a favor. This is not the cold war where the US had to protect Europe from a monstrously strong Soviet military. Europe's problem is the slow decline into losing its values by acceding to the likes of China and Russia, while Europe takes in, sooner or later, enough Muslim Islamists to alter its values. The US can't defend Europe from itself. By letting Europe confront the problem on its own, they may just be able to wake up in time to correct their policies on appeasement and immigration. If the US continues to fight for what is after all European values in the middle east and Afghanistan, Europe will be able to avoid their share of responsibility of fighting back against those who have no respect for individual freedom. So let Chavez dominate in South America. It will not be long before he drives the country to ruin. And let Europe see how benign the Chinese and Russians are when it comes to their own self interest. And as well let the cities of Europe see what awaits them as the muslims continue to demand that European society meet them more than half way. The no go areas, the treatment of women, the acquiesence to Muslim religious beliefs in the schools, hospitals and workplaces, the self-censorship of the media, if Europe can't stem that tide we can't do it for them. Sooner or later the Europeans will realize that Obama's brand of appeasement is not a formula for peace, but the white flag of surrender.
wyn| 10.18.09 @ 10:48AM
You are right. But there isn't a thing we can do about it. Remember your history. Remember that the Muslims emerged and took over the middle east at a time of political confusion: the end of the Byzantine period, which itself was the tag end of the Roman Empire. Europe did not emerge as a distinct culture, strong enough to resist them until the first Crusades. (wonder why Bin Laden et al rail against the Crusaders? They had become complacent and were helpless against a bunch of ragtag wild eyed northerners in body armor).
So until someone, the US? Europe? fills the political vacuum, this entire left/muslim jihadist play will continue.
Howard| 10.16.09 @ 9:53AM
I have read "pinkie brown" and at first blush agree with the author. However, I am afraid of the "Law of Unintended Consequences". So the benign outcome expressed may ultimately result in an even worse situation. Perhaps the Europeans become more insular (if possible), and our "friend" Chavez topples governments in South America resulting in more problems. I wish Obama wasn't such an idealist. Wake up and smell the coffee!!
Rmm| 10.16.09 @ 10:46AM
Just like the NEA has promoted the dumbing down of the public school system, so to does the current bunch of Libs led by the Anointed One, dumb down the very foundation upon which this great nation was built.
Pete| 10.16.09 @ 11:22AM
The most dangerous thing the Norweigian socialists want to happen is for Osama to subordinate the US to "world" governance. That way, we can be forced to pay for all of our climate crimes.
http://www.infowars.com/obama-.....tish-lord/
John II| 10.16.09 @ 12:20PM
Nothing more clearly demonstrates the kindred spirits entangled in this farce than the similarity of style on display in the prose of the Nobel committee and of any Obama speech. Through all the buzzwords and self-congratulatory cadences, one cannot but discern the damp plop-plop of cow-droppings hitting the barn floor.
Pingback| 10.16.09 @ 3:32PM
An Unconstitutional Nobel - Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors Forum links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
reads1| 10.16.09 @ 3:34PM
Just where did he, (Obama) learn these "Morals?" In the pew at Jerimiahs "church," at the feet of Saul Alinsky, in conversations with Bill Ayers, or in Tony Rezkos living room. These kinds of assumptions by writers such as Andrew covers up the true character of this man! He has surrounded himself with some of the most unsavory people in the Country and they are controlling his every move.
Pingback| 10.16.09 @ 4:09PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Buying Barack [spectator.org] on Top links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Anthony| 10.16.09 @ 4:24PM
These Nobel nitwits have confirmed what we've always know about leftist fools; they will believe in anything because they belive in nothing.
Obama receives the nomination after only 12 days in office; the rationale is the transcending nature of his election.
It is the same inane belief system that has these same fools convinced that anthropogenic global warming is occuring.
Logic, reasoning and common sense have abandoned these people, and their actions prove it each and every day.
Rick Wrap| 10.16.09 @ 9:02PM
Either/or thinking such as Mr. Cline's is boring and false.
It is, however, typical of the thoughtless.
James| 10.16.09 @ 10:18PM
Obama is nothing but a front man for the elitist socialists who are running this nation. By himself he would not even be able to give a discernable speech, let alone actually run this nation. That is why he is in constant motion. He is capable of making speeches as long as he has his teleprompter, and his handlers don't want him at the office where he can get in their way while they are making the decisions.
Yosemeti Sam| 10.17.09 @ 12:55AM
" ... The Norwegian Nobel Committee is using what currency it has to pay the President of the United States to behave as it wants him to behave...."
Currency? That'd be pocket change - right?
Pingback| 10.18.09 @ 8:13AM
Buying Barack | Republican Party of Door County links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 10.19.09 @ 12:54AM
Obama Takes on the Health Insurance Industry | The Democratic Daily | Insurance Finan links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Christopher Holland| 10.19.09 @ 1:19AM
What is the Nobel Committee going to do when their poster boy is so discredited within his own country that he is voted out of office? By 2012 Barack Obama is going to be a sick joke, even his own party will want to be rid of him. How does this advance the Nobel Committee's concept of world peace? What it does show is to prove, yet again, that the average American walking into a polling booth on election day has far more brains that any collection of liberal intellectuals under the sun.
Ronny Diaz| 1.7.10 @ 2:10PM
Wow, this was a really quality post. In theory I'd like to write like this too - taking time and real effort to make a good article... but what can I say... I procrastinate a lot and never seem to get something done.
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foiti| 4.7.10 @ 8:27PM
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